PA#. 

B\OG. 


A 


SERMON 


OCCASIONED  BY  THE  DEATH  OF 

MRS.  HARRIET  B.  H.  WILLIAMS, 

MISSIONARY  AT  MOSUL; 

PREACHED  AT 


AUBURNDALE,  NEWTON,  MASS., 

t 


FEBRUARY  28,  185  8. 


BY 

REV.  E.  W.  CLARK. 


CAMBRIDGE: 

ALLEN  AND  FARNHAM,  PRINTERS. 

1  85  8. 


A 


SERMON 


OCCASIONED  BY  THE  DEATH  OF 


MRS.  HARRIET  B.  H.  WILLIAMS, 

MISSIONARY  AT  MOSUL; 


PREACHED  AT 


AUBURNDALE,  NEWTON,  MASS., 


FEBRUARY  28,  1858. 


BY 

REV.  E.  W.  CLARK. 


CAMBRIDGE: 

i 

ALLEN  AND  FARNHAM,  PRINTERS. 

1  858. 


Auburndale,  March  8,  1858. 

Rev.  Edward  W.  Clark, 

Dear  Sir :  —  Having  listened  with  deep  interest  to  your  sermon,  oc¬ 
casioned  by  the  death,  at  Mosul,  of  Mrs.  Harriet  B.  II.  Williams, 
and  being  desirous  of  preserving  and  distributing  this  memorial  of  our 
loved  and  lamented  sister,  we  hereby  respectfully  request  a  copy  for 
the  press. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Chas.  C.  Burr, 

Jas.  Y.  L.  Hillard, 

Jas.  M.  Gordon, 

I.  R.  Worcester, 

S.  A.  Danfortii, 

Chas.  A.  Sweet. 


Auburndale,  March  17,  1858. 

Gentlemen :  —  If  the  Discourse,  of  which  you  request  a  copy  for 
the  press,  may  gratify  the  friends  of  the  deceased,  and  advance  the 
cause  of  Christian  Missions,  it  is  at  your  disposal. 

Yours,  affectionately, 

E.  W.  Clark. 

Chas.  C.  Burr,  Esq.,  and  others. 


ROMANS  14:  8. 


For  whether  we  live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord;  and  whether  we  die,  we 

DIE  UNTO  THE  LORD ;  WHETHER  WE  LIVE  THEREFORE,  OR  DIE,  WE  ARE  THE 

Lord’s. 


These  are  the  words  of  a  Christian  Missionary,  who 
was  called  by  his  Divine  Master  to  leave  his  own  kin¬ 
dred,  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  •  and  most 
truly  do  they  express  the  missionary  spirit.  We  rever¬ 
ence  such  noble  words,  uttered  by  a  man  who  so  fully 
exemplified  them  in  his  life,  —  who  counted  all  things 
but  loss  that  he  might  win  Christ,  —  who  in  living,  lived 
unto  the  Lord,  —  and  who  in  dying,  died  unto  the  Lord, 
—  who  had  no  thought  or  desire  but  that  Christ  might  be 
magnified  in  his  body,  "whether  it  be  by  life,  or  by 
death,”  —  who,  when  his  friends  stood  about  him  in 
tears,  and  entreated  him  not  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem, 
where  he  might  suffer  harm,  could  say,  with  a  martyr 
spirit,  "  what  mean  ye  to  weep  and  to  break  my  heart, 
for  I  am  ready  to  die  at  Jerusalem  for  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus” 


4 


The  spirit  of  the  text  is  the  very  spirit  of  self-denial, 
and  self-forgetfulness  in  view  of  the  honor  of  Christ. 
With  the  following  scope  do  I  interpret  this  noble  decla¬ 
ration  of  Paul.  “  For  whether  we  live ,  we  live  unto  the  Lord!' 
What  matters  it,  then,  where  we  live,  since  we  are  living 
unto  the  Lord,  —  since  we  are  following  his  will,  and 
not  our  own,  —  since  we  are  entirely  at  his  disposal  ? 
What  matters  it  where  we  live;  —  whether  amid  the 
friends,  and  loved  associations  of  early  years,  and  the 
endearments  of  home,  or  among  strangers  in  a  foreign 
land ;  —  whether  in  England  or  India,  in  x\merica  or 
Assyria ;  —  all  these  things,  the  mere  accidents  and 
accessories  of  life,  and  not  life  itself,  what  are  all  these 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  we  are  living  unto  the  Lord  ? 
We  have  forsaken  all  to  follow  him.  We  are  ready  to 
suffer  all  things  to  please  him.  We  are  his  servants,  to 
go  and  come  at  his  bidding.  We  are  his  friends,  delight¬ 
ing  to  do  his  will.  We  are  ready  to  attend  his  summons, 
and  live  where  he  may  appoint.  “  And  whether  we  die ,  we 
die  untodhe  Lord  :  ”  and  what  matters  it,  then,  where  we 
die  ?  Is  he  not  everywhere  ?  Can  we  die  so  friend¬ 
less,  as  not  to  feel  his  friendship  ;  so  unattended  as  not 
to  have  his  presence  ?  If  father  and  mother  and 
brothers  and  sisters  stand  not  at  our  dying  bed,  is  not 
Christ  the  Lord  there,  and  is  not  his  presence  more  than 
all  else  ?  What  matters  it,  then,  where  we  die,  and 
where  our  bodies  repose  ?  Let  them  sleep  in  a  foreign 
soil,  where  no  tear  of  affection  shall  moisten  the  sod 
that  covers  them ;  let  them  repose  on  some  ocean 
island,  or  in  some  ocean  depth,  —  at  Mosul,  or  at  Mount 
Auburn ;  what  matters  it,  since  the  eye  of  Infinite  Love 
is  watching  them,  and  as  in  life  they  were  the  Lord’s,  so 


I 


equally  in  the  grave  are  they  his,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  resurrection  our  mortal  shall  put  on  immortal¬ 
ity.  Such  is  the  spirit  of  our  text ;  —  a  spirit  of  high 
consecration,  and  lofty  devotion  to  Christ,  —  making  the 
privilege,  the  honor,  the  glory  of  being  the  servants  and 
friends  of  Jesus,  outweigh  every  other  consideration. 
Such  is  the  self-denying  principle  of  the  religion  of 
Christ.  It  has  not  changed  since  Paul’s  day.  So  was  it 
with  the  early  disciples,  and  so  is  it  ahvays  in  the  demand 
of  the  gospel,  and  in  the  highest  spirit  and  develop¬ 
ment  of  Christianity,  however  much  the  followers  of  the 
Saviour  have  failed  in  practice  to  attain  unto  it.  Every 
one  who  would  follow  Christ  is  told  that  he  must  do  it 
at  a  sacrifice  of  worldly  things.  “  Whosoever  he  be  of 
you  that  forsaketh  not  all  that  he  hath  he  cannot  be  my 
disciple.”  “He  that  loveth  father  or  mother,  son  or 
daughter  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me.”  In 
mental  determination  and  inward  self-denial,  every 
thing,  must  be  given  up  for  Christ’s  sake.  He  who 
holds  back  one  thing  from  Christ,  or  refuses  to  make 
one  sacrifice,  perils  his  whole  discipleship  and  fellow¬ 
ship,  and  eternal  salvation.  “  It  is  given  ”  unto  us 
“  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but 
also  to  suffer  for  his  sake.”  We  are  to  be  “partakers 
of  the  afflictions  of  the  gospel.”  Suffering  with  Christ 
is  made  a  condition  of  reigning  with  him.  “Rejoice, 
inasmuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ’s  sufferings; 
that,  when  his  glory  shall  be  revealed,  ye  may  be  glad 
also  with  exceeding  joy.”  We  are  in  a  warfare. 
Salvation  is  the  victory  to-be  won,  —  the  boon  to  be 
gained.  Christ  is  the  “  captain  of  our  salvation,”  and 
we  are  to  follow  whithersoever  he  goetli. 


6 


“  The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war, 

A  kingly  crown  to  gain. 

His  blood-red  banner  streams  afar ; 

Who  follows  in  his  train  ? 

Who  best  can  drink  his  cup  of  woe, 

Triumphant  over  pain  ; 

Who  patient  bear  his  cross  below, 

He  follows  in  his  train.” 

And  she,  we  confidently  believe,  followed  in  his  train, 
who  died  unto  the  Lord  in  Mosul,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of 
last  December.  Her  master  came  at  midnight  and 
found  her  at  her  post,  ready  to  magnify  him  in  her 
body,  “whether  it  be  by  life,  or  by  death.”  Her  Saviour 
chose  to  be  glorified  by  her  death,  and  so  he  took  her 
away  from  her  weeping  friends,  and  her  unaccomplished 
plans,  to  himself,  that  where  he  is  there  she  might  be 
also. 

We  are  all  mourners  to-day;  for  nature  demands  a 
-  tribute  of  tears.  It  is  fitting  that  we  weep.  That  night 
of  joy  and  glory  to  her  is  a  memory  of  sadness  to  us. 
One  whom  we  have  known  and  loved,  in  the  various 
relations  of  life,  has  lain  down  to  her  last  sleep  in  a 
foreign  soil.  No  more  will  she  awake  till  the  u  trumpet 
shall  sound  ”  We,  who  called  her  neighbor  and  friend, 
offer  our  sympathies  to-day  to  those,  who  called  her  by 
the  dearer  names  of  daughter,  sister,  wife.  We,  who 
were  her  brethren  and  sisters  in  the  church,  —  her 
coworkers  in  the  Sabbath  school,  —  her  companions 
in  study  and  in  the  social  circle,  mourn  in  sympathy 
with  those  who  weep  over  the  tenderest  of  earthly  ties 
dissevered.  We  bend  in  sadness  over  her  early  grave, 
and  her  unaccomplished  work.  But  while  we  weep,  we 


7 


rejoice.  The  occasion  of  our  tears  is  her  exceeding 
gain.  Over  her,  death  has  achieved  no  victory.  She  is 
the  victorious  one ;  for  her  to  die  was  gain.  From  our 
little  circle  she  has  gone  to  the  multitude  redeemed; 
from  our  poor  sympathies  to  the  holy  fellowship  on 
high  ;  from  her  father  on  earth  to  her  Father  in 
heaven ;  from  the  struggling,  church,  to  the  church 
triumphant. 

“  She  has  gone  to  her  God ;  she  has  gone  to  her  home, 

No  more  amid  peril  and  error  to  roam ; 

Her  eyes  are  no  longer  dim ; 

Her  feet  will  no  more  falter ; 

No  grief  can  follow  her, 

No  pang  her  cheek  can  alter. 

“  There  are  paleness  and  weeping  and  sighs  below ; 

For  our  faith  is  faint,  and  our  tears  will  flow ; 

But  the  harps  of  heaven  are  ringing, 

Glad  angels  come  to  greet  her ; 

And  hymns  of  joy  are  singing, 

While  old  friends  press  to  meet  her.” 

A  brief  memorial  of  her  life,  death,  and  character  is 
appropriate  to  this  occasion,  and  to  this  audience ;  the 
most  of  whom  knew  her,  and  had  in  her  the  interest  of 
personal  acquaintance. 

Harriet  B.  Harding  was  born  in  Waltham,  Mass.,  Sep¬ 
tember  15,  1836.  She  was  the  youngest  daughter  of 
Bev.  Sewall  and  Mrs.  Eliza  W.  Harding.  In  1837,  she 
went  with  her  parents  to  Medway,  Mass.,  where  her 
father  was  settled  in  the  ministry,  after  his  pastorate 
at  Waltham  was  ended ;  and  subsequently  she  removed 
to  Auburndale,  where  her  parents  took  up  their  abode 


8 


after  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Harding  as  Secretary  of 
the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication  in  1850.  She 
graduated  at  the  Lasell  Female  Seminary  in  this  place, 
in  1855,  with  eight  others;  and  afterwards  was  a 
teacher,  for  a  time,  in  Rev.  George  Gannett’s  school  in 
West  Cambridge.  March  2,  1856,  she  united  by  profes¬ 
sion  with  this  church,  and  the  following  year,  April  30, 
1857,  was  married  to  Rev.  W.  F.  Williams,  missionary 
of  the  American  Board  at  Mosul,  Assyria;  for  which 
place  she  sailed  from  Boston  July  7.  Subsequent  to  her 
marriage,  seven  months  were  spent  in  visiting  friends  in 
this  country,  and  in  crossing  the  ocean  to  her  destina¬ 
tion  ;  one  short  month  was  passed  on  missionary 
ground,  —  the  consecration  was  completed,  —  the  offer¬ 
ing  up  of  herself  to  her  Master’s  service  was  consum¬ 
mated,  and  she  was  taken  from  the  altar  of  sacrifice  to 
her  reward  in  heaven.  The  wave  of  sorrow,  that  weeks 
ago  rolled  over  loving  hearts  at  Mosul  and  Diarbekir, 
has  now  reached  our  shore.  Letters  have  but  just  come 
across  the  wide  waters  freighted  with  the  sad  intelli¬ 
gence.  Her  sorrowing  husband  writes  to  her  father  and 
mother :  “  How  shall  I  tell  you  ?  Talcott,  now  at  even¬ 
ing,  prays, 4  Bless  my  dear  father,  my  grandparents,  my 
aunts,  uncles,  and  cousins.’  She  whom  he  loved  to  call 
mother  has  no  longer  need  of  his  prayers.  The  light  of 
my  home  closed  her  eyes  on  earth,  opened  them  in 
worlds  of  joy,  Christmas  night,  at  eleven  and  a  half 
o’clock. 

“  Asleep  in  Jesus !  Blessed  sleep ! 

From  which  none  ever  wakes  to  weep  ;  ” 

“  My  dear  associates  will  tell  you  how  happy  and  un- 


9 


complaining  she  was  in  her  sickness;  how  pleasant  in 
her  death ;  how  easily  and  quietly  she  breathed  away 
her  soul,  while  all  were  gathered  about  her  bedside. 
Except  to  sleep  here  six  nights,  she  had  not  yet  entered 
her  own  house ;  we  had  not  once  rode  out  together ; 
she  had  not  learned  any  thing  of  the  language,  and  all 
the  plans  we  had  formed  together  for  the  future  remain 
unaccomplished.  To  human  appearance,  she  came  all 
this  long  way  to  find  a  grave.  But,  perhaps,  God  may 
propose  to  accomplish  more  by  her  death,  at  the 
threshold  of  her  labors,  than  her  long  life  could  have 
done.  God  grant  it  may  be  so  !  It  is  the  Lord.  Let 
him  do  as  seemeth  him  good.  We  bow  to  his  love  and 
wisdom.” 

Bev.  D.  W.  Marsh  writes :  “  Harriet  Harding  Williams, 
wife  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Williams,  of  Mosul,  breathed  her  last 
on  Christmas,  Dec.  25,  1857.  One  month  only  in  Mo¬ 
sul.  No  pestilence!  no  raging  heat!  We  cannot  un-  . 
derstand  it.  She  was  cheerful,  ready  and  willing  to  go. 
In  the  sudden  call,  she  knew  no  will  but  God’s.  Her 
patience  and  cheerfulness  blinded  us  to  the  progress  of 
her  disease.  She  had  been  unwell  at  Diarbekir,  but 
during  the  nine  days’  journey  down  the  Tigris  she  was 
well.  A  week  of  her  short  month  had  not  passed,  when 
she  was  attacked  with  what  proved  an  incurable  bilious 
diarrhoea.  In  vain  the  care  of  her  physician,  Dr.  Has¬ 
kell  ;  in  vain  the  tenderness  of  a  thoughtful  husband ; 
God  willed,  and  she  has  gone  to  her  heavenly  home. 
No  more  pain  for  her;  no  wearisome  pilgrimage.  Now 
she  enjoys  the  open  vision  and  full  fruition  of  heaven. 
But  her  stricken  husband,  and  the  twice  motherless 
children,  —  is  any  sorrow  like  unto  their  sorrow !  ” 

2 


10 


V 


In  another  communication,  Mr.  Marsh  writes :  “  She 
was  an  example  of  suffering  patience  and  cheerfulness. 
She  bowed  her  will  to  the  will  of  God.  The  wind 
passed  over  her,  and  she  is  gone.  Seldom  does  the 
grave  close  over  so  much  loveliness  and  worth.  The 
thoughts  of  God  are  not  as  our  thoughts.  They  are 
high  as  heaven,  wide  as  immensity!  What  can  we 
know!  We  can  only  draw  near  the  mercy-seat,  and 
with  bleeding  hearts  look  to  the  Lamb  of  God.  He 
died  for  us,  and  will  give  us  grace  to  die  for  him.  We 
are  in  deep  waters.  “God  moves  in  a  mysterious 
way.”  It  is  all  love.  We  lay  hold  of  his  hand  in  the 
thick  darkness.  Though  he  slay  us,  yet  will  we  trust 
in  him.” 

Such  is  the  information  which  has  come  to  us  from 
abroad  of  her  “falling  asleep  in  Jesus.”  Rest  there, 
youthful  saint,  in  thy  distant  Mosul  grave, 

“  till  from  his  throne 

The  morning  break,  and  pierce  the  shade.” 

A  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  her  friend,  Rev.  J.  P. 
Drummond,  of  West  Newton,  who  was  a  missionary  at 
heart,  and  the  state  of  whose  health  alone  prevented 
him  from  a  personal  consecration  to  the  foreign  field,  in 
his  Redeemer’s  service,  and  with  whom  Mrs.  Williams 
had  often  conferred  on  matters  pertaining  to  Christ’s 
kingdom,  she  was  called  to  follow  him.  Already,  per¬ 
haps,  their  ransomed  spirits  have  communed  together 
in  the  blissful  circles  of  heaven.  Her  name  is  now 
joined  in  everlasting  remembrance  with  those  mission¬ 
ary  heroines,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Schneider,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Van  Len- 
nep,  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Smith,  and  the  three  Mrs.  Judsons, 


11 


who  laid  down  their  lives  for  Christ’s  sake.  More  nearly 
does  her  brief  missionary  experience  resemble  that  of 
Harriet  Newell,  the  first  costly  sacrifice  to  the  cause  of 
missions  in  1812.  Mrs.  Newell  was  married  at  the  age 
of  nineteen,  sailed  for  Calcutta,  and  died  at  the  Isle  of 
France  ten  months  after  her  marriage,  and  four  months 
after  her  arrival  on  missionary  ground.  She  fell,  stricken 
by  death,  in  her  twentieth  year,  at  the  very  vestibule  of 
the  sacred  cause.  She  was  the  first  martyr  to  American 
missions ;  the  first  woman  who  went  out ;  the  first  who 
fell  a  sacrifice.  Harriet  Newell  and  Harriet  Williams — 
both  young,  enthusiastic,  devoted,  and  early  called  from 
the  cross  to  the  crown.  Their  work  was  short ;  their 
toil  soon  ended.  They  fell  cheering,  by  their  words  and 
their  example,  many  who  shall  rise  up  to  fill  their  places. 
They,  it  may  be,  have  already  met  in  the  spirit  land  to 
adore  together  the  Redeemer,  to  whose  cause  on  earth 
they  so  cheerfully  gave  their  lives.  Who  will  dare  call 
the  sacrifice  too  costly  ?  Who,  summoned  by  Christ, 
would  not  rejoice  to  come  forward  to  tread  a  like  path  ? 

Mrs.  Williams  possessed  a  character  of  a  high  order. 
She  had  a  sound  mind,  an  affectionate  disposition,  de¬ 
lighting  to  make  others  happy,  a  sunny  temperament, 
a  disciplined  will,  and  a  judgment  unusually  mature  for 
one  of  her  age.  While  we  do  not  claim  for  her  any  un¬ 
common  brilliancies  of  mind,  we  must  award  to  her 
many  excellencies.  Every  development  of  her  intellect 
and  heart  seemed  to  be  normal  and  sound.  No  hotbed 
growth  weakened  any  part  of  her  character ;  a  steady 
culture  had  given  her  reliable  powers.  Her  religious 
nature  was  calm,  thoughtful,  and  sweetly  moulded.  She 
moved  and  attracted  many  by  her  gentle  religious  sym- 


12 


pathies.  In  all  my  intercourse  with  her  as  a  friend  and 
pastor,  she  showed  herself  mild,  gentle,  amiable,  and 
teachable ;  ready  to  be  guided  by  counsel ;  anxious  to 
know  the  path  of  duty,  and  prepared  to  do  at  once  what 
she  felt  to  be  her  Lord’s  will.  But  I  have  no  words  of 
mere  eulogy  to  speak.  Such  utterances  would  not  ac¬ 
cord  with  the  retiring  modesty  of  our  dej)arted  friend. 
They  would  be  an  offering  to  her  memory  unasked  of 
heaven.  Her  consecration  to  the  cause  of  missions,  her 
death  at  her  post  of  labor  in  far  distant  Mosul,  are  her 
highest  encomium.  Let  others  speak  who  had  known 
her  longer  and  more  intimately.  One  who  had  an  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  her  of  many  years,  and  who  had  care¬ 
fully  studied  her  disposition,  says  of  her :  “A  prominent 
trait  of  her  character  wTas  a  conscientious  fidelity  in  the 
performance  of  duty,  often  at  the  expense  of  present 
gratification.  The  winter  of  1854-5  she  spent  in  her 
brother’s  family  at  Longmeadow,  Mass.,  when  she 
thought  she  experienced  that  great  change,  which  ever 
after  inspired  her  with  higher  and  nobler  aims  in  life. 
After  her  return  home,  her  mind  was  almost  entirely 
occupied  in  the  studies  preparatory  to  her  graduating 
at  the  Lasell  seminary,  and  though  she  never  relin¬ 
quished  the  hope  that  she  had  accepted  the  Saviour, 
her  mind  was  probably  somewhat  diverted  by  the  pres¬ 
sure  of  circumstances,  and  she  did  not  make  a  public 
profession  of  her  faith  until  the  spring  of  1856.  A 
lack  of  physical  endurance  was  often  a  drawback  upon 
her  mental  and  executive  power,  and  would  sometimes 
operate  as  a  discouragement  in  her  competing  with 
associates  in  study.  For  the  purpose  of  advancing  her 
education,  and  gaining  practical  discipline,  she  engaged 


13 


in  teaching  the  year  subsequent  to  her  seminary  course. 
She  was  successful  as  a  teacher ;  was  beloved  and  re¬ 
spected  by  her  associates,  and  secured  the  cordial  good¬ 
will  of  her  pupils.  They,  with  many  others,  clung  to 
her,  and  wept  sorely  that  they  should  see  her  face  no 
more,  when  she  left  for  ever  her  native  land.  And 
they  are  now  among  the  sorrowful  and  bereaved  of  her 
mourning  friends.  It  is  believed  that  she  sincerely 
sought  the  best  good  of  her  pupils,  and  by  her  faith¬ 
fulness  was  the  instrument  of  leading  some  of  them  to 
the  Saviour,  as  their  letters  to  her  testify.  Except  to 
her  most  intimate  friends,  she  said  but  little  of  her 
interior  life  •  but  her  great  purpose  was,  to  manifest  this 
life  by  the  performance  of  duty  in  all  its  relations,  and 
to  seek  for  strength  from  on  high  for  the  self-sacri¬ 
ficing  labors  to  be  performed.  The  great  aim  of  her 
education  had  been,  from  her  earliest  days,  to  cultivate 
the  judgment  rather  than  the  imagination,  so  that,  when 
upon  the  active  stage  of  life,  she  might  execute  rather 
than  theorize.” 

In  reference,  in  what  has  just  been  said,  to  the  belief 
that  Mrs.  Williams  was  the  instrument  of  leading  some 
of  her  beloved  pupils  to  the  Saviour,  we  may  quote 
a  few  sentences  in  a  letter  to  her,  written  March  8, 
1857,  by  one  of  her  former  scholars.  “  Surely  you,  who 
have  so  kindly  entreated  me  to  come  to  the  Saviour, 
and  interceded  for  me  at  the  throne  of  mercy,  should 
have  known  long  before  this  of  that  sweet  hope  which 
has  taken  possession  of  my  heart ;  —  of  that  happiness 
and  peace,  which,  I  trust,  I  have  found  in  my  Saviour. 
Oh !  my  beloved  teacher,  my  dear  friend,  I  cannot  ex¬ 
press  my  feelings  to  you ;  they  are  too  deep  for  words, 


14 


*• 


and  too  delightful  almost  to  realize.  May  heaven  bless 
with  its  choicest  gifts  her  who  taught  me  how  to  find 
my  Saviour.  I  can  only  thank  you,  but  God  will  reward 
you  in  heaven.”  Not  one  brief  year  ago  were  these 
words  written,  and  now  she  to  whom  they  were  ad¬ 
dressed  has  gone  to  her  reward  in  heaven,  where  “  they 
that  turn  many  to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars 
for  ever  and  ever.”  The  same  writer  last  quoted  in  a 
letter  received  since  Mrs.  Williams’s  decease  says,  she 
was  66  always  pleasant,  with  a  constant  flow  of  joyful  hap¬ 
piness  and  peace  beaming  from  her  eye.  She  ever 
seemed  a  being  to  love,  and  very  easily  was  I  drawn 
towards  her.  I  deemed  her  friendship  worth  possessing, 
and  strove  to  be  worthy  of  her  love.  She  won  me  from 
the  world  to  Jesus’  feet,  and  through  her  faithful  en¬ 
treaties,  I  was  at  length  led  to  see  and  feel  my  sinfulness, 
and  to  hope  that  my  heart  was  changed ;  and  now  I 
trust  to  meet  my  dear  teacher  in  heaven.” 

Rev.  George  Gannett,  in  whose  school  at  West  Cam¬ 
bridge  Mrs.  Williams  was  a  teacher,  writing  in  behalf 
of  himself  and  wife,  says,  Mrs.  Williams  “  was  not  with 
us  a  whole  year  in  the  capacity  of  an  assistant  teacher, 
without  our  receiving  a  strong  and  decided  impression 
of  the  superior  excellence  and  beauty  of  her  character. 
Had  I  time  I  should  like  to  enter  into  a  somewhat  full 
and  detailed  analysis  of  her  character,  as  it  appeared  to 
us;  but  I  must  now  limit  myself  to  a  few  brief  state¬ 
ments  relating  to  her  inner  religious  life,  as  it  was  ex¬ 
hibited  in  our  intercourse  with  her.  Her  piety  was 
unobtrusive,  and  yet  clearly  visible.  Its  fragrance 
rested  upon  all  with  whom  she  had  to  do.  While  she 
instinctively  shrunk  from  all  ostentatious  acts  of  service 


4 


15 

and  obtrusive  displays  of  zeal,  we  were  fully  convinced 
of  the  reality  and  constancy  of  her  devotion  to  her 
Saviour.  She  distinguished  herself  in  a  high  degree, 
by  her  private  faithfulness  to  the  children  and  young 
ladies  connected  with  our  family  and  school.  Repeat- 
edly  did  she  remain  at  home  with  the  children  that  she 
might  have  the  opportunity  to  converse  with  them 
upon  moral  and  religious  themes.  Often,  as  we  re¬ 
turned  home  from  the  Wednesday  or  Sabbath  evening 
prayer-meeting,  we  overheard  her  earnest  but  suppressed 
tones,  as  she  was  pleading  with  some  young  lady  to 
give  her  heart  to  Christ.  In  our  solicitude  for  the  spir¬ 
itual  welfare  of  those  under  our  care,  we  were  often 
refreshed  by  her  sympathies  and  cooperation.  To  say 
that  she  won  our  confidence  and  esteem,  would  but  in¬ 
adequately  express  what  we  feel.  She  was  one  whom 
we  all  sincerely  loved,  and  now  that  she  has  suddenly 
disappeared  from  us,  like  some  bright  vision  of  the  past, 
we  cannot  but  think  that  God  has  permitted  us  to  know 
her  for  a  season,  in  order  that  in  taking  her  away,  he 
may  draw  our  hearts  more  strongly  upwards  towards 
that  world  of  blessedness  whither  she  has  gone.” 

Rev.  Mr.  Walker,  her  brother-in-law,  missionary  at 
Diarbekir,  writes  as  follows  of  her  religious  experi¬ 
ence  and  preparation  for  death :  u  Her  preparations  had 
been  made  years  ago.  The  call  to  Mosul  was  a  severe 
test  of  her  consecration,  and  led  her  to  examine  her 
heart  anew,  and  enter  again  into  covenant  with  the 
Saviour  she  loved.  However  worthy  the  one  to  whom 
she  gave  her  hand  and  heart,  however  tenderly  she 
loved  her  dear  and  only  sister,  she  would  never  have 
entertained  the  proposal  of  a  missionary’s  life,  in  Mosul, 


16 


unless  feeling  that  she  had  been  bought  with  a  price, 
even  Christ’s  precious  blood.  The  love  of  Christ  had 
constrained  her,  and  made  her  willing  to  relinquish  the 
many  joys  and  privileges  of  her  highly  favored  lot,  and 
to  go  afar  to  labor  for  him.  That  lone  grave  in  far-off 
Mosul  bears  sweet  testimony  to  her  willingness  to  follow 
Christ  whithersoever  he  should  call.  And  now,  how¬ 
ever  dear  she  may  have  been  to  her  parents,  and  to  us,  • 
and  to  her  husband,  who  loved  her  with  a  very  tender 
love,  knowing  the  worth  of  the  treasure  God  had  given 
him,  I  doubt  not  she  was  dearer  still  to  Jesus,  who  loved 
her  and  gave  himself  for  her,  and  whose  she  had  cove¬ 
nanted  to  be  for  ever ;  she  had  shown  the  ‘  willing 
mind,’  which  is  accepted  with  him.  But  he  needed  not 
her  labors.  He  desired  her  praises  rather,  and  so  grant¬ 
ing  her  a  happy  exemption  from  all  the  anticipated 
missionary  toils  and  trials,  he  gave  his  beloved  sleep, 
and  called  her  to  himself.  We  would  gladly  have  de¬ 
tained  her  to  dwell  with  us  here.  0  how  much  of  joy 
had  we  anticipated  from  her  occasional  presence  and 
her  weekly  letters !  But  the  Lord  whom  she  and  we 
served,  had  better  things  in  store  for  her,  and  we  joy 
in  the  blessed  assurance  that  the  ‘  Golden  Harp’  and 
the  6  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb  ’  are  hers,  and  will  be 
for  ever.” 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Mrs. 
Williams  to  a  friend  a  few  weeks  after  her  union  with 
this  church,  will  give  us  a  truthful  glimpse  of  her  relig¬ 
ious  feelings  and  purpose,  and  will  close  our  considera¬ 
tion  of  her  character  and  Christian  experience  :  “  Unite 
with  me,”  she  says,  “in  rejoicing  that  on  the  last  com¬ 
munion  Sabbath  at  home,  I  took  upon  me  those  holy 

t 


17 


vows  consecrating  my  all  to  my  Saviour,  and  was  per- 
mitted*  for  the  first  time,  to  partake  of  the  symbols  of 
his  death  in  remembrance  of  him.  It  was  a  holy,  happy 
day  for  me ;  the  most  solemn  of  my  earthly  life.  I 
need  not  describe  to  you  my  feelings ;  for  the  remem¬ 
brance  of  a  like  day,  equally  solemn  to  you,  is  yet  fresh 
in  your  mind.  How  fully  can  we  sympathize  with  each 
other  in  what  our  Saviour  hath  done  for  us,  in  his  great 
love  and  mercy.  Like  you  I  have  been  much  happier 
since  my  decision,  and  as  I  dwell  more  and  more  on  the 
infinite  attributes  of  our  God  and  Saviour,  and  com¬ 
mune  with  him,  a  peaceful  happiness  fills  my  soul.  Is 
it  not  delightful  to  commune  with  God  in  secret,  and 
pour  out  our  whole  heart  in  prayer  to  him  ?  ” 

With  such  a  sweet  devotion  she  wrote  of  her  conse¬ 
cration  to  Christ.  Let  the  companions  of  her  studies 
and  fife,  in  this  place,  cherish  these  instructive  words, 
which,  though  dead,  she  yet  speaks  to  them.  Now  we 
trust  she  has  learned  how  delightful  it  is  to  exchange 
a  throne  of  grace  for  a  throne  of  glory,  and  with  open 
face  to  behold  the  beauty  of  her  King. 

There  are  reflections  which  connect  themselves  with 
this  providence  of  God  in  removing  our  friend  from  us, 
which  are  pertinent  to  different  classes  of  persons  in 
this  community. 

To  you,  the  afflicted  household,  to  whom  this  loss 
comes  the  nearest,  I  have  no  vain  consolations  to  offer, 
such  as  a  worldly  mind  might  demand.  To  you,  to 
wThom  this  affliction  comes  the  nearest,  —  to  you  also, 
the  joy  of  it,  the  glory  of*  it,  the  honor  of  it,  come 
the  nearest.  Is  it  an  occasion  of  mourning,  or  of  sol¬ 
emn  thanksgiving  and  devout  rejoicing,  that  God  hath 

3 


18 


counted  you  worthy  of  so  great  an  honor,  as  that  two 
of  your  number  should  be  enrolled  in  the  army  of 
Christ  that  occupies  the  foreign  field ;  that  one  meekly 
bears  the  honors  of  continued  and  successful  toil ;  that 
one  has  the  seal  of  immortality  set  upon  her  finished 
work?  Oh,  is  it  not  much  to  have  a  dear  household 
name  so  early  set  in  that  galaxy  of  missionary  heroines, 
in  which  Harriet  Newell  was  the  first  star,  and  to  which 
multitudes  shall  hereafter  aspire,  when  consecration  to 
the  missionary  work  shall  cease  to  be  a  distinction,  and 
almost  cease  to  be  a  self-denial  ?  If  the  mother  of  a 
hero  is  happy,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  mother  of  a  mis¬ 
sionary  of  Jesus?  If  she  is  blessed  who  cherishes  the 
name  and  the  honors  of  Havelock,  who  gave  his  life  for 
his  country’s  sake,  how  are  they  doubly  blessed  who 
cherish  a  parent’s  memories  of  one  who  gave  her  life 
for  Christ’s  sake  ?  She  who  is  gone  has  no  regrets  at 
the  decision,  which  she,  with  a  daughter’s  meekness 
and  confidence,  yielded  to  you,  her  parents.  *  She  will 
eternally  bless  you,  that  those  consultations,  held  in  the 
night-watches,  in  anxiety  and  tears,  resulted  in  the  full 
consecration, C(  here,  Lord,  we  give  our  daughter  to  thee, 
to  be  thine,  living  or  dying,  at  Mosul.”  Let  no  vain 
thought  that  the  sacrifice  was  too  costly  weaken  your 
faith  in  God.  He  loves  the  cause  of  Christ  here  on 
earth,  more  than  you  can,  and  he  never  would  have 
taken  your  precious  gift  from  the  altar  of  sacrifice, 
where  you  had  placed  it  to  be  used  for  his  cause,  if  it 
had  not  been  better  for  that  cause  to  have  it  removed. 
Oh,  comfort  your  hearts  with  these  thoughts !  that  she 
whom  you  loved  has  exchanged  the  weariness  of  mis¬ 
sionary  toil  for  the  rest  of  heaven ;  that  by  your  loss 


19 


God’s  glory  is  promoted  ;  that  by  your  loss  the  Sav¬ 
iour’s  cause  is  advanced  ;  yea,  that  your  loss  is  your  gain , 
for  “  our  light  affliction, 1  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory  ;  while  we  look  not  at  the  things  which  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen :  for  the 
things  which  are  seen '  are  temporal ;  but  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  are  eternal.” 

There  is  in  this  event  a  thoughtful  lesson  for  the 
teachers  of  the  seminary,  in  this  place,  where  she  grad¬ 
uated.  Teachers,  if  it  be  a  noble  distinction  to  be  the 
mother  of  missionaries,  it  is  likewise  an  honor  to  be  a 
teacher  of  missionaries,  —  and  so  to  teach  that  a  mis¬ 
sionary  spirit  may  be  awakened,  and  thus,  through  your 
scholars,  you  may  set  all  the  gems  of  science  which  you 
bestow  on  them  in  your  Saviour’s  crown.  Converts  to 
righteousness  in  your  midst ;  laborers  in  the  vineyard 
of  your  Lord,  willing .  to  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of 
the  day;  missionaries  of  the  cross, —  these  are  the  high¬ 
est  honor  to  any  seminary  of  learning.  An  institution, 
producing  such  fruits,  never  lacks  scholars  and  patrons ; 
never  lacks  the  memorials  of  grateful  remembrance ; 
never  fails  of  success ;  for  consecration  to  Christ  ensures 
faithfulness  and  prosperity  in  every  other  good  and  de¬ 
sirable  thing.  If  it  made  better  soldiers  of  Havelock 
and  Vicars,  it  will,  by  far  higher  reason,  make  better 
scholars.  Luther  knew  the  power  of  inward  righteous¬ 
ness  and  holy  consecration,  when  he  adojoted  as  his 
motto,  “  bene  orasse  est  bene  studuisse .”  If  you  strive  to 
bring  your  pupils  as  learners  to  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and 
imbue  them  with  a  missionary  spirit,  you  strive  for  the 
highest  good  ;  you  gain  every  end  worthy  of  pursuit  in 


20 


gaining  that.  —  What !  can  you  wish,  can  you  think  of  a 
higher  o;ood  than  to  have,  in  time  to  come,  a  multitude 
of  names  enrolled  on  your  catalogue,  also  enrolled  in 
the  records  of  missionary  stations,  whose  sound  goes  out 
through  all  the  world,  and  whose  influence  will  be  felt 
in  the  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth  wherein  dwelleth 
righteousness  ? 

To  you,  the  present  members  of  the  Seminary,  her 
example  speaks.  If  it  was  wise  in  her  to  choose  the 
Saviour,  and  his  service  as  her  portion  and  life-work, 
would  it  not  be  equally  the  part  of  wisdom  in  you? 
Had  she  an  obligation  resting  upon  her,  which  is  not  on 
you  ?  Had  she  a  call  for  gratitude  to  her  Lord  which 
you  have  not  ?  Do  you  applaud  her  choice,  and  shall 
not  others  approve  a  like  choice  in  you  ?  Would  you, 
like  her,  fall  “  asleep  in  Jesus,”  when  the  hour  of  death 
comes,  —  then  you  must  listen  to  the  voice  of  your  Sav¬ 
iour  now  saying  to  you,  “  Go  work  to-day  in  my  vine¬ 
yard.”  Make  this  matter  of  devotion  to  Christ  per¬ 
sonal  ;  strengthen  the  newly  awakened  desire  for  holi¬ 
ness  by  prayer  to  the  Father  of  lights.  Ask  wisdom 
of  Him,  who  giveth  liberally,  and  from  heaven  shall 
descend  upon  you  the  answer  of  mercy,  and  the  conse¬ 
cration  in  righteousness. 

To  you,  especially,  the  companions  of  her  studies,  and 
the  members  of  her  class  in  graduating,  her  early  death 
speaks  in  persuasive  tones.  The  list  of  nine  names  is 
now  a  list  of  eight.  One  space  is  vacant  forever.  The 
earthly  pupilage  of  one  of  your  number  is  ended.  Har¬ 
riet  B.  Harding  will  no  more  -respond  to  the  summons 
to  earthly  toil,  or  to  the  whisper  of  earthly  affec¬ 
tion.  She  has  lain  down  to  her  last  sleep,  not  to  awake 


21 

till  the  heavens  be  no  more  ;  but  it  is  a  sleep  in  Jesus. — 
Blessed  sleep  !  Her  lone  grave,  in  distant  Mosul,  calls 
you  to  emulate  her  example,  —  to  take  up  her  unfin¬ 
ished  work,  —  to  go  forth  in  her  stead  for  your  Lord 
and  master.  Who  of  you  will  respond  to  the  call,  and 
gain  a  place  with  her  ?  Who  of  you  can  as  fully  say, 

“Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken, 

All  to  leave  and  follow  thee.” 

In  this  event,  the  Master  cometh  and  calletli  you  to  a 
high  and  holy  consecration  to  his  service.  Happy  are 
they  who  have  ears  to  heed  the  call. 

To  this  church  a  word  of  warning  is  sent  by  our 
Divine  Bedeemer.  Not  quite  two  years  did  our  de¬ 
parted  sister  commune  with  us  in  the  imperfect  fellow¬ 
ship  of  the  church  militant.  Now  she  has  fallen  on  the 
field  of  conflict,  and  gone  to  the  chfc?h  triumphant. 
Her  Master  came  for  her  at  the  midnight  hour,  and 
found  her  watching.  The  call  was  sudden  and  unex¬ 
pected,  but  not  unwelcome  ;  for  she  had  given  herself 
to  glorify  her  Lord  by  living  or  dying.  “  Be  ye  also 
ready ;  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of 
man  cometh.” 

Who,  from  the  Sabbath  school,  where  for  years  she 
sat  as  a  learner,  and  for  a  briefer  period  pointed  the 
path  to  heaven  as  a  teacher,  will  heed  this  call  of  God  ? 
Who  is  emulous  of  the  honor  bestowed  upon  her  ? 
Who  will  bear  her  mantle  ?  Who  will  gain  her  undy¬ 
ing  reward  ? 

To  Christian  fathers  and  mothers,  I  have  a  word  to 
say  before  I  close.  And  here  my  whole  heart  speaks. 
What  son,  what  daughter  will  you  consecrate  and  train, 


22 


* 


and  send  to  fill  the  vacant  place !  Says  Rev.  Mr.  Marsh 
in  his  letter,  “  this  is  a  bitter  cup,  and  not  the  least 
bitter  is  the  inquiry,  how  will  Christian  fathers  and 
mothers  take  this  new  blow  to  our  work  ?  They  have 
long  been  very  tender  of  their  sons  and  daughters.  Will 
they  count  the  offering  too  costly  ?  Yet  now  at  such  a 
time  as  this,  will  not  old  and  young,  parents  and  chil¬ 
dren,  young  men  and  maidens,  crowd  God’s  courts,  and 
with  solemn  inquiry  entreat  of  God  to  make  known  the 
meaning  of  this  hidden  dispensation?  Think  what 
thousands  of  lives  go  for  national  aggrandizement !  Wit¬ 
ness  India  now,  and  the  Crimean  war  of  late  !  ”  Thus 
writes  this  devoted  missionary.  He  is  greatly  solicitous 
as  to  the  effect  this  death  may  have  upon  tender  fathers 
and  mothers,  and  through  them  upon  the  cause  of  mis¬ 
sions.  0  false  tenderness  to  keep  back  your  sons  from  * 
this  service  to  Christ !  0  selfish  tenderness  to  withhold 

them  from  so  noble  a  consecration !  It  is  an  honor  to  be 
earnestly  sought  of  Heaven  to  have  a  son  or  daughter 
go  to  missionary  ground.  How  can  Christ  be  so  di¬ 
rectly  imitated  in  his  example  of  self-denial,  or  so  ex¬ 
pressly  obeyed  when  he  says,  “  Go  teach  all  nations.” 

It  is  an  honor  to  have  a  child  enter  such  a  service.  It 
is  a  glorious  thing  to  have  a  son  or  daughter  fall  in 
such  a  work.  Who  of  you,  Christian  parents,  are  asking 
of  God  such  an  honor?  Could  the  mothers  of  the 
Revolution  put  the  musket  into  the  hands  of  their 
beloved  sons,  and  say,  “Meet  the  enemy  and  conquer 
or  die  ;  come  back  in  honor  or  come  not  at  all,”  and 
shall  not  Christian  fathers  and  mothers  with  a  holy 
devotion  bid  their  sons  and  daughters  go  forth  as  sol¬ 
diers  of  the  cross,  and  conquer  in  Jesus’  name  ?  Shall 


earthly  emoluments  be  deemed  of  more  worth  than  the 
honor  that  cometh  from  God  ?  Is  it  sweet  to  die  for 
one’s  country,  and  not  sweet  to  die  for  one’s  Saviour? 
In  battle,  when  one  falls  in  the  deadly  breach,  another 
springs  forward  to  fill  the  fatal  spot.  So  should  it  be 
with  the  soldiers  of  the  cross ;  so  should  it  be  now  ;  so 
must  it  be  now,  or  Christ  will  be  dishonored.  So  will  it 
be  now,  for  God  will  never  suffer  his  Son  to  be  put  to 
shame  before  a  heathen  foe.  In  this  event  He  only 
tries  the  faith  and  zeal  of  his  people.  He  affords  an 
occasion  for  us  to  show  our  love  for  his  kingdom.  Who 
will  embrace  it,  and  devote  their  son  or  daughter  to  this 
work  ?  Christian  mother,  that  darling  son,  the  light  of 
your  eyes,  give  him  in  holy  consecration  to  this  service. 
Nurture  that  little  one  from  the  cradle  to  be  a  mission¬ 
ary  of  the  cross.  Father,  devote  that  l  J^ved  daughter 
to  this  holy  work.  Train  those  youthful  feet  to  walk  in 
the  self-denying  steps  of  Jesus.  Thus  will  joy  and 
peace  enter  your  earthly  home,  and  God  will  establish 
with  you  an  everlasting  covenant  in  righteousness. 
Thus  will  heaven  open  its  portals  to  you  and  your  chil¬ 
dren,  and  its  holy  rest  receive  father  and  mother,  sons 
and  daughters,  after  earth’s  discipline  is  perfected, — 
earth’s  sacrifice  accepted,  —  earth’s  labor  finished. 


THE  MISSIONARY’S  CALL. 

(C  My  soul  is  not  at  rest.  There  comes  a  strange 
And  secret  whisper  to  my  spirit,  like 
A  dream  of  night,  that  tells  me  I  am  on 
Enchanted  ground.  Why  live  I  here  ?  The  vows 


24 


Of  God  are  on  me,  and  I  may  not  stop 
To  play  with  shadows,  or  pluck  earthly  flowers, 
Till  I  my  work  have  done,  and  rendered  up 
Account.  The  voice  of  my  departed  Lord, 

“  Go  teach  all  nations,”  from  the  Eastern  world 
Comes  on  the  night  air,  and  awakes  my  ear. 

“  And  I  will  go.  I  may  no  longer  doubt 
To  give  up  friends,  and  home,  and  idol  hopes, 
And  every  tie  that  binds  my  heart 
To  thee,  my  country. 

Henceforth,  then, 

It  matters  not  if  storm  or  sunshine  be 
My  earthly  lot ;  bitter  or  sweet  my  cup ; 

I  only  pray  God  fit  me  for  the  work ; 

God  make  me  holy  and  my  spirit  nerve 
For  the  stern  hour  of  strife.  Let  me  but  know 
There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up, 

An  eye  that  watches  kindly  all  my  path, 

Till  I  my  weary  pilgrimage  have  done  — 

Let  me  but  know  I  have  a  Friend  that  waits 

To  welcome  me  to  glory,  and  I  joy 

To  tread  the  dark  and  death-fraught  wilderness. 

“  And  when  I  come  to  stretch  me  for  the  last, 

In  unattended  agony,  beneath 
The  cocoa’s  shade,  or  lift,  my  dying  eyes 
From  Afric’s  burning  sand,  it  will  be  sweet 
That  I  have  toiled  for  other  worlds  than  this  ; 
And  if  I  should  reach  heaven  —  if  one  for  whom 
Satan  hath  struggled  as  he  has  for  me 
Should  ever  reach  that  blissful  shore,  oh,  how 
This  heart  will  flame  with  gratitude  and  love ! 
And  through  the  ages  of  eternal  years, 

Thus  saved,  my  spirit  never  shall  repent 
That  toil  and  suffering  once  were  mine  below.” 


t 


'J 


/ 


l 


.  , 

yTr 


f 


«*.  ■ 


V' 


\ 


